PTHA News

May 22nd, 2021 | Issue #11 ​ ​ ​ ​

Trophy Presentations Memorial Day

Watch Parx live on Monday. May 31st, as we honor the Best of 2020 in the Winner's Circle. The much anticipated Horse of the Year Award will be presented, as well as categories for Owner, Trainer, Top Jockey, best in class, and more. Winners will accept their trophies between races. ​ Who do you think should be the 2020 Horse of the Year? Tune in and see!

Click to View Nominations

PTHA Welcomes New Board Member John Nash, Owner/Director

As a long-time owner and breeder of Thoroughbred horses, John Nash has been added as the newest Owner/Director of the PTHA's Board of Directors. He was the General Manager for four NBA teams, including the Philadelphia Sixers, the Washington Bullets, the New Jersey Nets, the Portland Trail Blazers, and a former Comcast broadcaster.

Nash has been a fan of horse racing since he was young and was also a former high school classmate of Executive Director Michael Ballezzi. He has horses with trainer Phil Aristone and has been an owner/breeder himself since 1973. He won his first race at Garden State Park on Kentucky Derby Day 1973, the same day that Secretariat won the Kentucky Derby. He is still looking for his "big" horse, and now that he is retired, Nash is looking forward to devoting more of his time working for the horsemen at Parx.

Nash now lives in Delaware with his wife and enjoys spending time with his children and grandchildren. As a new board member, his goals are to continue what the PTHA has started regarding caring for the horses of Parx Racing and the hardworking horsemen in terms of pension and health benefits, as he knows how vital they are to the horse racing industry. He is a huge supporter of Turning For Home and the continued effort that the PTHA has made to maintain the integrity of the sport.

Veterinarians Only!!! ​SHOCK WAVE DEVICES & THERAPIES

Be advised, effective June 7th, Commission staff will conduct an investigation of the barn area looking for devices, treatments and therapies not in accordance with regulation 403.7. Non-compliance will be considered a violation. 403.7 lists the penalty for said non-compliance. Read the New Ruling Here

Let's Go Racing Show

Watch the Let's Go Racing Show every Saturday on PHL 17 at 10 am with Dani Gibson and Dick Jerardi

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Seven Years Later, A Preakness Medina Spirit Derby Win in Win Jeopardy

by DIck Jerardi by Dick Jerardi

​It was the Monday before the 2014 ​Been doing a radio show every Saturday Kentucky Derby. I was having dinner at morning (9-11, iHeartRadio app) from Proof on Main in Louisville with several outside the Sports Book at the Parx of my writer friends when I got a call Casino. We talked about college from Mark Reid. One of his main clients, basketball throughout the NCAA owner Bill Warren, was interested in Tournament. Lately, there has, naturally, sending some horses to the west coast been a lot of horse racing discussion... and needed a trainer... Read More Read More

Q&A With New Parx Announcer Chris Griffin Getting to know our new Parx Racing announcer, Chris Griffin, on the Grand Stand with a quick, fun Q&A with Dani Gibson.

150-Day Layoff Report Frequently Asked Questions 2021 Parx Racing Click to View Stakes Schedule

Click to View

Around the Ovals

May 9, 2021 – Belmont Park

PA Bred Beren won the Gold Fever Stakes by a nose with jockeyM anuel Franco, for trainer Butch Reid and owners/breeders Susan C. Quick and Christopher J. Feifarek, after prevailing with a strong outside move and gaining the edge in the final stride.

May 15, 2021 - Pimlico

Parx Trainers were well represented at Pimlico, with trainer Jamie Ness winning the Sir Barton Stakes with The King Creek, ridden by jockey Jaime Rodriquez for owner Morris E. Kernan, Jr., and Jagger Inc. The King Creek won against Bob Baffert’s Hozier after dueling it out in the final stretch.

After a strong start, Indian Lake ran 4th in the James W. Murphy Stakes with jockey Jaime Rodriguez for trainer Jamie Ness and owners Gap View Stables and Jagger Inc.

PA-Bred Chub Wagon won the $100,000 Runhappy Skipat Stakes with jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. for trainer Guadalupe Preciado and owners/breeders Daniel J. Lopez and George Chestnut. She was absolutely impressive and displayed a new dimension by harnessing her incredible speed to rate behind rivals, then drew off when clear at the 1/8th pole to get the victory by 2 lengths over a fast closing 2nd place Casual for trainer Steve Asmussen.

PTHA Peaks

PTHA Peeks!

Real-time uploads and video highlights with Dani Gibson for the PTHA at Parx Racing can be found on our Social Media or on the front page of the PTHA website PTHA Peeks

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5/19/2021 PTHA Trophy Race - Parx Racing

Federal Case won our 5/19/2021 PTHA Trophy Race at Parx Racing after a gutsy stretch duel with jockey Dexter Haddock for trainer Jamie Bravo-Estrada & owner ...

Read more www.youtube.com

Champers & jockey Frankie Sail Above wins for trainer Pennington take them gate to... John Servis & Someday Farm

The beautiful gray colt Champers does PA Bred Sail Above did just that to put it again winning with jockey Frankie in a dominant performance to win Pennington in Monday's 2nd race for Tuesday's 7th race for her famous trainer Jamie Ness, owners Morris connections taking after her sire Kernan, Jr.,... Smarty Jones for...

Read more Read more www.youtube.com www.youtube.com

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​You can win too on Turning For Home Day!

Enter our TFH Day Raffle for a chance to win:​ An Afleet Alex Stud Halter, a Jeremy Rose bobble head, and an autographed Afleet Alex hat & visor

Tickets are $10 each, and can be purchased through Turning For Home, PTHA, HPA, or online at: www.TurningForHome.org All proceeds go directly to the care of the retiring Parx horses for surgeries, rehabilitation, shipping, and retraining at our Partner Farms!

Prize ticket drawing will be held in the Winner's Circle at Parx Racing after feature race on Turning For Home Day, Tuesday, June 22nd, 2021. Uptowncharlybrown Stud LLC and Diamond B Farm Remain Lead Sponsors for TFH Day 2021

With a short lead-in time and limited resources due to the restrictions imposed after the COVID- 19 Pandemic, there will not be a huge party with tons of sponsors and great food and flash, but we will still have a great day of education and outreach with regard to our nationally acclaimed racehorse retirement program, Turning for Home. Since the initial concept for TFH Day in 2014, UTC Stud LLC and Diamond B Farm have been leading the way to co-sponsor this event, along with Parx Racing and the PTHA, which raises awareness for our program and they will resume top spot again in 2021. As always, TFH Day celebrates the Partner Farms, without whom we could never assist as many horses into safe second careers as we have. Last year over 300 horses were rehabilitated, retrained and rehomed with no-slaughter contracts despite a 100 day pause in racing and the loss of corresponding funding. TFH kept its doors open for the horses who remained in training and those who were retired prematurely with the threat of a long pause in our sport. We hope you can come out, enjoy a great day of racing with two PA Bred Stakes and the TFH Handicap, and celebrate the beauty, athleticism, and versatility of the horses we love to breed and race and follow into their next careers. Their achievements are ours to share and we need to celebrate the magnificent horses we raise and train and give back to them what they deserve. We are honored this year to be able to raffle the stud halter of the very special Preakness and Belmont winner from 2005, Afleet Alex. Stay tuned for more to come on June 22nd!!

Remember the Fun we had.... before the pandemic on TFH Day....Let's do it Again!!!

TFH Success Stories of the Week

​Final Blessing

Final Blessing found a new home last year with his adopter, Melissa, through our partnership with Full Gallop Farm in Aiken, SC and has become a real family horse. Truly a blessing for Melissa’s family, the seven-year-old chestnut gelding has shown to be extremely versatile following his retirement from the track after a solid career of 32 starts. Final Blessing, nicknamed “Pumpkin Pete” by Melissa’s three-year-old daughter, has been enjoying his new home in Colorado, mostly trail riding, and is currently working with a trainer to do more jumping. “I can’t say enough of what he means to our family”, Melissa says, as he’s been such a joy to have around. TFH helps over 300 horses retire safely each year from Parx Racing. You can now donate to TFH simply by shopping Amazon Prime, without any extra cost to you! Click the banner below to go to AmazonSmile and choose Turning For Home, Inc. to support our charity every time you shop.

Backstretch Views

In Loving Memory of Dean Musser

Wishing a very Happy Birthday to the PTHA's Executive Director Michael Ballezzi!

Trainer Scott Lake won three-in-a-row last week at Photo by Rudy Lauletta - May 12th, 2021 Parx with Inspired Options, Diesel, and Always a Queen Photo by Rudy Lauletta - May 12th, 2021

Jockey Angel Castillo autographing goggles for aspiring young jockeys as families returned to Parx Racing!

Fans have been coming more frequently to Parx as Navin Mangalee celebrating his win on Almost Evil Spring rolls on. Photo by Rudy Lauletta - May 12th, after the 7th race at Parx, May 19th, 2021 2021 Trainer Jamie Ness congratulates trainer Lupe Trainer Elias Tapsas and W eekend at Court on Preciado after win at Pimlico with Chub Wagon on Tuesday, May 18th May 15th, 2021

Thanks to the healthcare professionals that visited the PTHA Recreation Hall on Thursday, May 20th, over 70 backstretch employees received their first dose of the Pfizer COVID vaccine!

Bensalem Pharmacy 2112 Street Road Bensalem, PA 19020

Continuing Education for Trainers and Assistant Trainers

1. Trainers and assistant trainers shall complete a minimum of four hours of continuing education per calendar year and shall certify compliance with continuing education requirements as a condition of licensing. 2. Qualifying courses, which may...

Read more tharacing.com

PA COMMISSION APPROVES POLICY TO BAN RACE-DAY LASIX IN 2-YEAR-OLD RACES, GRADED STAKES

The Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission April 27 approved an administrative policy that will eliminate the use of race-day Lasix in 2-year-old races and graded stakes effective June 1 of this year. Read More

Guide to careers in horse racing - The Pennsylvania... PA-bred Chub Wagon wins Skipat Stakes to remain... The newest version of A Guide to Careers in Horse Racing is now A Pennsylvania-bred filly remained available. Co-sponsored by the undefeated in six starts and a gelding Pennsylvania Horse Racing recently claimed for $40,000 became a Association, the booklet is full of graded-stakes winner in the two information and photos related to MATCH Series stakes held at Pimlico possible careers in both harness and Race Course May 15. The 2021 flat racing.... MATCH Series began May 14-15 at... Read more Read more pennhorseracing.com pennhorseracing.com

PHBA Strengthens Commitment to Aftercare and Supports SAFE Act

Read More Go to www.pabred.com to see the winners this Saturday!!!

Click to View PA Bred Stakes Schedule

PA Bred Commercial

12 And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! 13 And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring…. 15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” 16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” - Genesis 28:12-16 (ESV)

I love the story in the above Scripture passage. Jacob is in a tight spot, on the run from his family, afraid, and not feeling very good about how he has acted – what he has done. The LORD speaks to Jacob in a dream, and the dream has an inspiring and informative picture. It is as if a veil is lifted, and one sees the presence and activity of Heaven. Jacob wakes up and says, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” How often are we not aware that the LORD is in this place? It might be most often when we feel, or know that we have done something wrong, that we feel that God has left us. That God is not with us. God surely will not bless sin, but God is all about transforming us into something better. God is all about reconciling us to Himself, and to others. God does not force Himself into our lives, but God is always ready to be invited, and if invited to stay. I think there was something in the heart of Jacob that prayed to God. Jacob may have been praying non-stop, all day as he hustled eastward, as he lay down in the dark night exhausted, I think Jacob was praying. God did not disappoint Jacob. God was showing Jacob that where Jacob was, and where Jacob was going God would be there. Last week was Ascension Day. Forty days after Easter/Passover the Scriptures tell us that Jesus ascended to Heaven, before the very eyes of the disciples. Jesus had promised to never leave them. How could Jesus say that and then ascend to Heaven? Jacob could answer that question. Jacob might say that God is always even less than a prayer away. You may not know it, well you may know it, but you may not feel it. God can be anywhere. God can be everywhere. And, God’s presence is almighty. Jacob might tell his story of when he was on the run after having cheated his father and brother – And, God gave Jacob this vision, allowing Jacob to see what was really going on. I am so grateful that this story is preserved for us. God does not change. The forces of Heaven are still as present today as they were that dark night for Jacob…..

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, - Ephesians 2:4-6 (ESV)

HPA Store Hours

(every day except Sunday) Tack Shop: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm Feed/Shavings Trailers: 8:00 am – 1:00 pm Ice House: 8:00 am – 2:00 pm (Race Days)

Contact: Vicky Mangini, HPA Manager HPA Phone: 267-223-3494 For up-to-date news and stories, visit our website . PTHA Office : 267-223-3322

PTHA Affiliates

Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's ​ ​ ​ ​ Association | www.patha.org